Bottom dump container for bulk material

ABSTRACT

A reusable heavy duty corrugated carton attached to a pallet and adapted to be conveyed by a fork-lift truck, said container being constructed with a disposable bottom dump panel so that when the bottom panel of the container has been cut by tear means to create dumping openings in the bottom panel and the contents of the container have been released the container may be reused by providing a new bottom dump panel.

United States Patent Macie Nov. 25, 1975 1 BOTTOM DUMP CONTAINER FOR BULK 3,097,786 7/1963 Militana 229/51 s MATERIAL 3,127,084 3/1964 Williams 217/43 A UX 3,565,329 2/1971 Wagner.... 229/51 S Inventor: Henry 1 M 5350 8th 3,606,969 9/1971 Voytko 229/23 R LaGrange, 111. 60525 3,785,534 1/1974 Smith 229/17 B [22] Flled' May 1974 Primary ExaminerDavis T. Mobrhead [21] Appl. No.: 473,447 Attorney, Agent, or FirmFrank R. Thienpont 52 us. 01. 229/17 B; 229/51 D; 229/23 0 [57] ABSTRACT 51 Int. c1. 865D 5/72; B65D 17/00 A reusable heavy duty corrugated Carton attached to a [58] Field of Search 229/17 B 23 c, 23 R, 51 D, pallet and adapted to be conveyed by a fork-lift truck, 229/51 CB said container being constructed with a disposable bottom dump panel so that when the bottom panel of [56] References Cited the container has been cut by tear means to create UNITED STATES PATENTS dumping openings in the bottom panel and the contents of the container have been released the con- 329,562 11/1885 Howe 229/51 s x tamer may be reused by pmvidinga new bottom dump 1,862,480 6/1932 Glbson 239/51 S panel 2,741,420 4/1956 Bodaro 229/51 S X 2,965,276 12/1960 Foster 229/23 C 14 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures US. Patent N0v.25, 1975 Sheet10f3 3,921,892

U..S. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet20f3 3,921,892

BOTTOM DUMP CONTAINER FOR BULK MATERIAL This invention relates to improvements in material handling containers used for, carrying bulk materials and said containers using a bottom dump means for releasing materials from the container.

Bulk products such as grains and small manufactured parts, for example, in the past have been transported and stored in a variety of containers. As the containers become larger to accommodate more product the emptying of these containers presents some problem. The problem of emptying depends somewhat, of course, on the particular product involved. An associated problem is the waste involved in the disposition of these containers once they have been used.

Accordingly, it becomes appropriate to try to devise a container which may be easily emptied of its contents. Furthermore, because of the waste and expense incurred in using such large containers only once it is appropriate to try to devise some way in which these containers may be reused.

An object of the present invention is to provide a corrugated pallet container including a bottom dump means so that the container which would normally be transported by a fork-lift truck may be easily and quickly emptied of its contents.

Another object of this invention is to provide a reusable corrugated pallet container in which the bottom dump means is in the form of a disposable bottom dump panel so that the container may be reused upon replacement of a new bottom dump panel.

Another object is to provide a container wherein the rcplaceable bottom dump panel includes readily accessible tear means for making an opening in the bottom panel when dumping is desired.

Still another object is to provide a reusable corrugated pallet container of substantial strength by providing a triple wall section which includes an outer wall section, a middle liner and an inner liner.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become more apparent when considered in conjunction with the following accompanying drawings which include the following:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a corrugated pallet container embodying the invention herein;

FIG. 2 is a view in the elevation taken through line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the container showing the container cover in an open position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the container showing the container in a partly closed position;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view in elevation illustrating the interfitting of the container parts;

FIG. 6 is a partial view in elevation showing a bottom dump panel of the container of FIG. 5 wherein two separate bottom dump openings are provided;

FIG. 7 is a plan view ofa bottom dump panel as seen in FIG. 5 wherein two separate openings-are provided;

FIG. 8 is an edge view taken along line 8-8 of FIG.

7 showing the arrangement of the panel ripping string;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of another embodiment ofa bottom dump panel;

FIG. 10 is an edge view taken along line 1010 of the bottom dump panel of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a partial view in elevation showing a container having a bottom dump panel wherein only one opening is provided;

FIG. 12 is a view in perspective showing the bottom dump panel of FIG. 11.

The corrugated container herein disclosed is shown generally as 10 and comprises an outer wall portion 12, a middle liner 14 disposed in and adjacent to said outer wall portion and an inner liner 16 disposed within and adjacent to said middle liner, a removable bottom dump panel 18 and a pallet support 20 to which the outer wall portion is attached. A container cover portion 22 is part of and integral with the outer wall portion 12.

The outer wall portion 12 comprises a plurality of side walls 24, 26, 28 and 30 all interconnected along vertical score lines 32. Each side wall has formed thereon flap portions 34 at least one of which is attached to the pallet support 20 by stapling or other suitable means. The side walls are formed with vertically extending fluting 36. The side walls of the outer wall portion also have integrally formed therewith at their upper ends, extended flap portions 38 connected to each of the side walls 24, 26, 28 and 30. These extended flap portions are connected to the side walls by appropriate scoring 40 and further have formed thereon angled scoring lines 42 to enable the flap portions to be folded with respect to each other to seal the upper portion of the container thus forming a container cover.

Vertical slits 44 may also be formed at the upper ends of two of the flap portions as shown in FIG. 3 to further enable the cover portion 22 to be properly closed. In addition, cut out portions 46 may be formed at the upper end of two oppositely disposed flap portions 34 as shown in FIG. 3 to further assist in providing for easy closure of the top flap portions.

The top cover for the container could also be a regular slotted carton top or a conventional cap type cover.

The middle liner 14 includes four side walls 48, 50, 52 and 54 interconnected along vertical score lines 55 and in the container assembly this middle liner is telescoped within and closely adjacent the outer wall portion. The middle liner is constructed with fluting 56 which runs horizontally as seen in FIG. 5, that is transversely to the vertically extending fluting 36 in theside walls of the outer wall portion and the vertically extending fluting ofinner liner 16. The middle liner is easily insertable into or removable from the container assembly so that it may be inserted into the outer wall portion at the time that the container is to be used.

The inner liner also includes four side walls 58, 60, 62 and 64 interconnected by vertical score lines 65 and in the container assembly is telescoped within and closely adjacent to the middle liner 14 as seen in FIG. 2. It also is easily insertable into or removable from the container assembly. As mentioned above, fluting 66 in the inner liner runs vertically. The container construction, therefore, is such that the fluting in the middle liner runs in a direction transverse to the fluting in the outer wall portion 12 and inner liner 16 to thereby provide an overall strong container construction. Flap por- 70 are connected at their upper and lower surfaces by a plurality of upper slats 72 and lower slats 74 and are positioned so as to define between the blocks longitudinal and lateral passageways for the entry of spaced forks of a forklift truck from any side of the container. Slats 72a. 72b, 72c, 72d and 72@ define two openings 76 and 78 through the pallet. The center slat 72h provides additional support for the bottom dump panel 18.

A preferred form of a bottom dump panel 18 is shown in FIG. 7. The panel 18 comprises sheet material preferably of corrugated fiberboard substantially rectangular in configuration and which is large enough to fit snugly within the outer wall portion 12 and rest on the flap portions 34 as seen in FIG. 2. It will be ob served from FIG. 2 that in the container assembly the bottom panel 18 at its edges lies between the flap portions 34 of the outer walls 12 and the flap portions 68 of the inner liner 16 to provide an effective seal. The panel 18 is formed to provide two openings therein for dumping the contents from the container through openings 76 and 78 in the attached pallet. A pair of ripping strings or wires 80 and 82 are anchored to the top surface of the panel respectively at points 84 and 86. The ripping wire then extends across the panel and is led through an opening 88 in the panel and attached to the underside of the panel. A loop or other gripping means 90 may be fastened at the end of the wire. The panel has formed therein a series of indentations or perforations 92, 94, 96 and 98 for each of the two openings the panel is adapted to provide. These perforations define the lines along which the panel is designed to be ripped when the ripping wires 80 and 82 are manipulated. It will be observed that the perforations 92, 94, 96 and 98 for each opening are arranged in a converging manner. When the ripping wires 80 or r 82 are pulled by their loop ends the panel will be ripped from the point starting at hole or opening 88 to the anchoring point 84. Then the weight of the contents in the container will be effective to rip the panel further along the perforations 92, 94, 96 and 98 to make the final full openings in the panel to allow the contents of the container to be dumped through their respective openings 76 and 78 in the pallet. A paper covering 101 may cover the inside surface of the panel 18 to provide a sealer over the identations or perforations and protect the ripping strings.

' It is important to note that the ripping wires 80 and "82 on the bottom dump panel should be placed in a direction'transverse of the fluting 100. Also the panel 18 must be so positioned in the container that the fluting 100 runs transversely to the center member 7212 of the pallet, the center member 72b acting as a support member for the bottom dump panel.

A somewhat similar but slightly different bottom dump panel 118 is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The panel 118, like that of FIGS. 7 and 8, is also structured to provide two dump openings but the means to provide these dumping openings is different. Tear tapes 102 and 104 with an attached means 106 or 108 respectively are fixed to the inside top surface of the panel and anchored at points 110 and 112 respectively for each of the two openings. The tear tapes 102 and 104 crisscross for each opening to be made in the panel. The attached means 106 and 108 extend though openings 114 in the panel from the inside top surface to the underside outside surface of the panel 118 where they terminate in a ring or loop or some other attached means for pulling the tear tape through the panel. Since the tear tapes 102 and 104 are laid on the panel in a crossing pattern it is important that a sequence be assigned for ripping the tapes through the panel so that the uppermost tape is not pulled first. When a container assembly is supported in midair on the forks of a fork-lift truck it is apparent that the tear tapes 102 and 104 may be pulled to cut the panel in a criss-cross direction as clearly seen in FIG. 9 to thus form openings in the panel 118 for releasing the contents from the container.

Instead ofa panel with two openings it is also possible to have a panel in which only one large opening will be made as shown, for example, in FIGS. 11 and 12. This would be possible in smaller containers. The same means for making the openings as previously described in connection with FIGS. 7 through 10 may be use. When this embodiment is used the pallet, of course, would not have a center member 72!). This arrangement might be used for smaller containers and it is ap parent that the load which the container would carry would be the limiting factor as to whether this type of bottom dump panel would be used.

It will be apparent that the container herein described is a collapsible container which in the first instance can easily be assembled at the point of use. After use, that is after the contents have been dumped from the container, the liners can be easily removed and the used bottom dump panel replaced. Replacing the bottom dump panel, of course, can wait until the container is to be reused. In the meantime, if the container is attached to the pallet by only one flap portion the container can be collapsed while attached to the pallet after removal of the liners. In the alternative, the container can be completely removed from the pallet, the liners separated from each other and all the elements of the container collapsed separately.

It is apparent that I have provided a useful improvement in containers whereby a container is provided having a convenient bottom dump means. Furthermore, providing a separate and disposable bottom dump panel makes it possible to reuse a container of this type a number of times limited only by the normal wear and tear to which such a container would be subjected considering the environment in which it is used and the materials which the container is used to transport.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention herein have been illustrated, it will be appreciated that these are shown by way of example only, and the invention is not to be limited thereto as other variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its fullest possible interpretation within the terms of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A corrugated box bottom dump container comprising:

a pallet support;

an outer wall section attached to said pallet support;

a removable middle liner coextensive with and disposed within said outer wall section;

a removable inner liner coextensive with and disposed within said middle liner;

a container bottom comprising a separate disposable and replaceable bottom dump panel extending over substantially the entire bottom area of the container; and

panel tearing means in said replaceable bottom dump panel for creating opening means therein to release contents from said container.

2. The bottom dumpcontainer of claim 1 wherein said pallet support includes opening means therethrough which is in register with opening means adapted to be created in said bottom dump panel when said panel tearing means is actuated.

3. The bottom dump container of claim 1 wherein the panel tearing means comprisesa ripping string or wire anchored on the inside top surface of said bottom panel and which extends longitudinally across said panel to a point spaced from the anchoring point and is then extended through the panel to a position where it may be grasped for actuation and tearing of the panel.

4. The bottom dump container of claim 3 wherein said panel tearing means further includes means defining a perforation pattern with the ripping strings disposed therebetween in such manner that when said ripping string is pulled to make a rip in the panel the weight of the contents of the container will bear against the weakened panel structure and create an opening defined by said perforation pattern.

5. The bottom dump container of claim 4 wherein said bottom dump panel is formed with fluting running therethrough. said ripping string being positioned to cut transversely through said fluting.

6. The bottom dump container of claim 1 wherein said bottom dump panel includes panel tearing means for creating two side by side openings in said panel; and

said pallet support includes a longitudinally extending central support member which runs between said means for creating two side by side openings.

7. The bottom dump container of claim 1 wherein said bottom dump panel includes panel tearing means for independently creating two side by side openings in said panel;

said pallet support includes a longitudinally extending central support member which runs between said means for creating two side by side openings;

said bottom dump panel being formed with fluting running therethrough, said panel being positioned in the assembly so that the fluting of said panel runs transversely to said longitudinally extending central support member of said pallet support.

8. The bottom dump container of claim 1 wherein the panel tearing means comprises a plurality of tear tapes attached to the inside surface of said bottom dump panel and pull means attached to said tear tapes whereby actuation of said pull means is effective to rip said tear tapes through said bottom dump panel to create an opening therein to permit the contents of the container to be released.

9. The bottom dump container of claim 1 wherein said outer wall section and inner liner are constructed ofa fluted matrial running in one direction and said middle liner is constructed of fluted material running in a direction transverse to the fluting in said outer wall section and said inner liner.

10. The bottom dump container of claim 9 wherein the fluted material of said outer wall section and said inner liner runs vertically and the fluted material of said middle liner runs horizontally.

11. The bottom dump container of claim 1 wherein two of said wall sections or liners are constructed of a fluted material running in one direction and the other of said wall sections or liners is constructed of fluted material running in a direction transverse to the fluting of said two of said wall sections or liners.

12. The bottom dump container of claim 1 wherein said outer wall section has inwardly extending flap portions formed thereon, the outer edge of said bottom dump panel resting on said flap portions.

13. The bottom dump container of claim 12 wherein said liner has inwardly extending flap portions formed thereon which overlap the edges of said bottom dump panel:

said inwardly extending flap portions on said outer wall section and on said inner liner forming a seal with the outer edges of said bottom dump panel.

14. A reusable corrugated box bottom dump container comprising:

four side walls and a bottom panel;

said container bottom comprising a separate disposable panel not integral with the container walls and extending over substantially the entire bottom area of the container;

said container bottom further including panel tearing means for creating opening means therein to release contents from said container. 

1. A corrugated box bottom dump container comprising: a pallet support; an outer wall section attached to said pallet support; a removable middle liner coextensive with and disposed within said outer wall section; a removable inner liner coextensive with and disposed within said middle liner; a container bottom comprising a separate disposable and replaceable bottom dump panel extending over substantially the entire bottom area of the container; and panel tearing means in said replaceable bottom dump panel for creating opening means therein to release contents from said container.
 2. The bottom dump container of claim 1 wherein said pallet support includes opening means therethrough which is in register with opening means adapted to be created in said bottom dump panel when said panel tearing means is actuated.
 3. The bottom dump container of claim 1 wherein the panel tearing means comprises a ripping string or wire anchored on the inside top surface of said bottom panel and which extends longitudinally across said panel to a point spaced from the anchoring point and is then extended through the panel to a position where it may be grasped for actuation and tearing of the panel.
 4. The bottom dump container of claim 3 wherein said panel tearing means further includes means defining a perforation pattern with the ripping strings disposed therebetween in such manner that when said ripping string is pulled to make a rip in the panel the weight of the contents of the container will bear against the weakened panel structure and create an opening defined by said perforation pattern.
 5. The bottom dump container of claim 4 wherein said bottom dump panel is formed with fluting running therethrough, said ripping string being positioned to cut transversely through Said fluting.
 6. The bottom dump container of claim 1 wherein said bottom dump panel includes panel tearing means for creating two side by side openings in said panel; and said pallet support includes a longitudinally extending central support member which runs between said means for creating two side by side openings.
 7. The bottom dump container of claim 1 wherein said bottom dump panel includes panel tearing means for independently creating two side by side openings in said panel; said pallet support includes a longitudinally extending central support member which runs between said means for creating two side by side openings; said bottom dump panel being formed with fluting running therethrough, said panel being positioned in the assembly so that the fluting of said panel runs transversely to said longitudinally extending central support member of said pallet support.
 8. The bottom dump container of claim 1 wherein the panel tearing means comprises a plurality of tear tapes attached to the inside surface of said bottom dump panel and pull means attached to said tear tapes whereby actuation of said pull means is effective to rip said tear tapes through said bottom dump panel to create an opening therein to permit the contents of the container to be released.
 9. The bottom dump container of claim 1 wherein said outer wall section and inner liner are constructed of a fluted matrial running in one direction and said middle liner is constructed of fluted material running in a direction transverse to the fluting in said outer wall section and said inner liner.
 10. The bottom dump container of claim 9 wherein the fluted material of said outer wall section and said inner liner runs vertically and the fluted material of said middle liner runs horizontally.
 11. The bottom dump container of claim 1 wherein two of said wall sections or liners are constructed of a fluted material running in one direction and the other of said wall sections or liners is constructed of fluted material running in a direction transverse to the fluting of said two of said wall sections or liners.
 12. The bottom dump container of claim 1 wherein said outer wall section has inwardly extending flap portions formed thereon, the outer edge of said bottom dump panel resting on said flap portions.
 13. The bottom dump container of claim 12 wherein said liner has inwardly extending flap portions formed thereon which overlap the edges of said bottom dump panel; said inwardly extending flap portions on said outer wall section and on said inner liner forming a seal with the outer edges of said bottom dump panel.
 14. A reusable corrugated box bottom dump container comprising: four side walls and a bottom panel; said container bottom comprising a separate disposable panel not integral with the container walls and extending over substantially the entire bottom area of the container; said container bottom further including panel tearing means for creating opening means therein to release contents from said container. 